Study: Medicare Part D Copays To Rise Up to 40%
Copayments for preferred brand-name drugs under Medicare's prescription drug plans are expected to increase by an average of 40% in 2012, while copays for non-preferred brand-name medications likely will increase by an average of 30%, according to a new Avalere Health study. Avalere noted that the study highlights how Medicare has started to shift costs to patients with chronic conditions who require more costly types of medications, while encouraging beneficiaries to select less costly generics to manage their conditions. Medicare officials challenged the findings of the study, noting that it is based on broad averages of the prices in the drug plans.
- "Higher Copays Seen for Medicare Brand-Name Drugs" (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 11/16).